Evidence of meeting #23 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was area.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Councilor, Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation
Without taking too much time, Qalipu First Nation has a development corporation. The development corporation has one shareholder, which is Qalipu. The development corporation itself is involved in commercial fisheries.
I guess the answer to that is yes.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
In your opening remarks, you mentioned that your first nation saw benefits from the NMCA. Was any socio-economic analysis done, or was that looked at?
Councilor, Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation
We were in the process of doing those types of things. Socio-economic analysis, as you well know, is a fairly time-consuming process. Given the diversity of things, it was in the process of being looked at.
In saying so, there are certain datasets that we're able to use to show what economic drivers would be caused if, for example, Sandbanks Provincial Park were converted into a national park. If there were more tourism activities going on in the area, what would that result in? There appeared to be significant financial benefits to Qalipu First Nation members, their communities and the other communities in the area from a socio-economic point of view.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
From a socio-economic point of view, did you look at what negative impacts there would be on the fishing industry or the aquaculture industry?
Councilor, Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation
It would be in the same context, sir.
There seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding of the negative impacts on fishing. While there would be some in the sense of some special interest areas and zones, the impacts aren't significant. In the context of the earliest mapping, the draft area was just shy.... Basically, we reduced it by about a quarter based upon the concerns raised by the aquaculture sector. We delineated any active aquaculture areas.
The one and only issue that was to be dealt with through zoning and more intense negotiations with fishers was bottom trawling, predominantly for a small scallop business.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
Thank you very much.
Mr. Chair, I'd like to take this time to introduce a notice of motion.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
Small craft harbours are essential infrastructure for a robust and successful fishery. Safe, well-maintained small craft harbours assist in fishery operations and improving safety for harvesters, local community members and individuals who work around the water. There are concerns from communities and harvesters that funding processes and designs for small craft harbours need to be streamlined and improved. The new government was elected to cut red tape and remove barriers for industries so we can grow one strong Canadian economy.
I therefore ask that, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2)(b), the committee undertake a six-meeting study on the small craft harbour program, its funding and implementation, the capacity of harbour authorities in managing and delivering small-scale upgrades, and improvements that can be made to remove red tape and streamline the program; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee ask that the government provide a comprehensive response to its report.
I can table that in both French and English.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Mr. Connors. If you can circulate that to members through the clerk, that would be much appreciated.
Of course, this is just giving notice.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
You'll need to give 48 hours' notice before it can be moved, unless it's in committee business, of course.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
With that, we're moving on to Monsieur Deschênes.
Mr. Deschênes, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Mr. Chair, I too would like to give notice of a motion, and I'm very pleased to do so, because it concerns a subject that comes up often in Gaspésie, especially in Chaleur Bay. It reads:
That,
(a) the committee undertake a study on the management of recreational and traditional clam fishing (Mya arenaria) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Chaleur Bay within a maximum period of six months;
(b) the study specifically address:
(i) the opening of new shellfish harvesting areas in the Baie-des-Chaleurs region and elsewhere in the Gulf of St. Lawrence,
(ii) public support for the opening of new sites,
(iii) changes in federal resources allocated to recreational and traditional clam fishing since 1980,
(iv) the operation of the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP);
(c) the study aims to identify concrete solutions to increase the number of locations open to recreational and traditional harvesting, while ensuring public health and the sustainability of the resource, in particular, through reinvestment in testing programs and improved collaboration with local communities, Indigenous peoples, and municipalities; and
(d) the committee invites representatives from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, clam fishermen, representatives of the Micmac Nation, as well as biologists and other environmental experts working for research centres to appear before it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you, Mr. Deschênes. I know that your motion has been circulated to members. As I said to Mr. Connors, you need two days' notice to move a motion, unless it's in camera.
You have about a minute left to ask a question, if you want.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Richard Paton, as things stand, how would you describe the way the federal government consults you when setting up marine protected areas?
Assistant Executive Director, Marine and Wildlife Conservation, Qikiqtani Inuit Association
Over the last three years, we've engaged all 13 of our communities and developed a Qikiqtani Inuit protected and conserved areas plan. As a part of that process, we worked with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to engage communities in the High Arctic. That was facilitated through conversations and engagement on the ground over the last two years, with a commitment through our new agreement called SINAA to engage all 13 communities with our federal partners.
I would say that goes hand in hand with conservation outcomes across the Qikiqtani.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
I'm sorry, but that's all the time we have.
We're going to move on to Mr. Gunn.
You have five minutes.
Conservative
Aaron Gunn Conservative North Island—Powell River, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Heidt, you mentioned that 17 first nations have signed up to support the plan, and you're here to represent them. Have other first nations opposed it?
Operations Manager, Great Bear Sea Marine Protected Area Network, As an Individual
To my understanding, there are a couple of nations on the coast that did not support it, and the partners respected that by not doing any planning within their traditional territories.
Conservative
Operations Manager, Great Bear Sea Marine Protected Area Network, As an Individual
I don't engage with non-partner nations. That's the job of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, so I can't say.
Conservative
Aaron Gunn Conservative North Island—Powell River, BC
Were you not engaged in consultations throughout this entire area?
You're telling me that you don't know why. Is there speculation about why different first nations opposed it?
Operations Manager, Great Bear Sea Marine Protected Area Network, As an Individual
Sure, I could speculate, if you'd like me to.